Timing off???

[BoBbOrAzE]

Alright well I decided to see if the timing is all lined up on my car. I have read through many of the older posts regarding this topic and according the them it would mean my timing is off? I have not checked the other timing marks but the top 2 on the cam gears I think may be off. If someone who understands this could possibly help me out and tell me what this looks like I would greatly appreciate it.

Note: The little dowels are not exactly perfect pointing straight up but very close.

 

[phillabaum03]

Well you gotta line up the crank mark. If your crank mark is lined up then your timing is off. Did you do a timing belt job or did you just take the top cover. Chances are you didnt line up the bottom crank right unless you just did the timing belt.

 

[BoBbOrAzE]

No I did not just do the timing belt, I removed the top cover to check and happened to be close. Oh duh I got it, so the crank mark has to be adjusted first, then you go and check to see if the cam gear marks are in spec. Correct?

(Also, the reason I checked is because the car has very little power and the rpms dont really climb. Basically I can be at 3000 in 3rd and punch it and it takes forever to climb up with very little power. I have done boost leak etc. and was recently told to check timing.)

thanks

 

[DSM90AWD]

A very accurate way to check cam timing without having to remove the lower cover is to remove the #1 sparkplug (the one farthest to the driver's side) and place a long screwdriver in so it rests on the piston top. With the car in neutral (M/T) or Park (A/T) rotate the crank sprocket clockwise only with a 1/2" drive until the screwdriver is at the top of it's travel (it will pause). If the cam sprocket marks are on opposite sides (e.g. 9 o'clock exhaust / 3 o'clock intake), repeat a second time. They should now be aligned at 3 o'clock (exhaust) and 9 o'clock (intake).

If not the case, either your belt jumped a tooth/teeth, your crank pulley separated or the belt was never installed correctly in the first place.

BTW.. base ignition timing is not adjustable on the 2Gs

 

[BoBbOrAzE]

Excellent, that explained it really well, I will try exactly that tomorrow night. Yea I know that unfortunately base ignition timing is not adjustable on the 2gs. Also actually about a year ago my crank pully did indeed seperate pretty badly, but I never thought it could have any effect on the timing belt?? Wow that could explain if the marks end up being off. Thanks!

 

[steve]

Also actually about a year ago my crank pully did indeed seperate pretty badly, but I never thought it could have any effect on the timing belt?? Wow that could explain if the marks end up being off. Thanks!

Because the harmonic dampners do seperate we need to check that the timing mark on it is correct before jumping to conclusions. Since people normally would tell you to turn the crank over until the timing mark in the pulley lined up with the TDC mark of the timing belt cover before checking the cams. Pulling the #1 plug and checking for TDC this way will alert you to a slipped pulley rather than thinking the cam sprockets are off. If the piston says TDC and the
harmonic dampner timing mark lines up but the cams are still off then you know that the timing belt has jumped.

Steve